Andy Burnham Appointed UK Prime Minister, Pledges to 'Rewire Britain'

New Delhi: Andy Burnham was formally appointed Britain’s prime minister on Monday, July 20, 2026, after an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. The former Greater Manchester mayor “kissed hands” and accepted the King’s invitation to form a new administration, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer who resigned earlier in the day. Burnham becomes the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years, and the 59th person to hold the role. He is also the fourth PM to serve under King Charles in less than four years. In his first address outside No.10 Downing Street, Burnham pledged “a new political model and a new economic model” to “rewire Britain”, focusing on the cost-of-living crisis, public service reform, and giving more power to regions. He called it “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years”. The 56-year-old Labour leader, nicknamed “King of the North”, takes over without a general election. Starmer, in a farewell speech, said he was passing “the baton” to Burnham with “full support”. Burnham now faces immediate challenges on defence spending, migration, the economy, and relations with the US under Donald Trump. A cabinet reshuffle is expected in the coming hours.